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Lakers Shore Up Backcourt

With a point guard corps that includes championship-tested veteran (and starter) Derek Fisher and his veteran backup, Steve Blake, the Lakers were looking to add a younger body in the backcourt that perhaps provides the best of both players’ skills.

L.A. may have gotten exactly that by swinging a trade with Cleveland for point guard Ramon Sessions, reports Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com. Also moving to Los Angeles in the deal is athletic swingman Christian Eyenga, who has appeared in just six games for the Cavs this season and has mostly been in the NBA D-League. Here are the gritty details:

The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired point guard Ramon Sessions from the Cleveland Cavaliers as part of a multi-player deal that will bring the Cavs the Lakers’ 2012 first-round pick, according to league sources.

The Cavs also will send young wing player Christian Eyenga to the Lakers and veteran forward Luke Walton will be going to the Cavs. The Lakers’ will keep their draft pick this year if they miss the playoffs. As part of the deal, the Lakers also will have the right to swap first-round draft position in 2013 with the Miami Heat’s first round pick, which the Cavs own.

Sessions is averaging 10.5 points and 5.2 assists for the Cavs this season and fills a need for the Lakers, who have been in the market for a true point guard. Sessions is earning $4.2 million this season and is scheduled to earn $4.5 million next season, which is his option.

Walton, who has battled injuries over the last several years, has one year and $6.1 million left on his contract — he’s played in just nine games this year. Eyenga has played in just six games and has spent time in the D-League.

Sessions spent most of the season as the understudy to Rookie of the Year favorite Kyrie Irving, but has held down starting gigs in the past and has become a capable 3-point shooter this season, too.